Abstract: A polishing pad useful in chemical mechanical polishing comprising a polishing portion having a top polishing surface and comprising a polishing material an opening through the polishing pad, and a transparent window within the opening in the polishing pad, the transparent window being secured to the polishing pad and being transparent to at least one of magnetic and optical signals, the transparent window having a thickness and a top surface having a plurality of elements separated by interconnected recesses to provide a pattern in the top surface that includes recesses for improved deflection into a cavity in the polishing pad during polishing.

Abstract: The invention provides a polishing pad suitable for polishing integrated circuit wafers. It includes an upper polishing layer that having a polishing surface and at least one groove in the upper polishing layer. At least one transparent window is located within the upper layer. The at least one transparent window has a thickness greater than a desired wear depth of the at least one groove. The at least one transparent window includes a non-fluorescent transparent polymer; and a fluorescent transparent polymer. The transparent window allows measuring groove depth by activating the fluorescent transparent polymer with an activation source at a wavelength sufficient to excite the fluorescent transparent polymer and allow endpoint detection by sending light through the fluorescent transparent polymer and the non-fluorescent transparent polymer.

Abstract: A polishing pad useful in chemical mechanical polishing comprising a polishing portion having a top polishing surface and comprising a polishing material an opening through the polishing pad, and a transparent window within the opening in the polishing pad, the transparent window being secured to the polishing pad and being transparent to at least one of magnetic and optical signals, the transparent window having a thickness and a top surface having a plurality of elements separated by interconnected recesses to provide a pattern in the top surface that includes recesses for improved deflection into a cavity in the polishing pad during polishing.

Abstract: The invention provides a polishing pad suitable for polishing integrated circuit wafers. A polyurethane polishing layer has a top surface and at least one groove in the polyurethane polishing layer. At least one copolymer wear detector located within the polyurethane polishing layer detects wear of the polishing layer adjacent the at least one groove. The at least one wear detector includes two regions, a first region being a fluorescent acrylate/urethane copolymer linked with a UV curable linking group and a second non-fluorescent region, The wear detector allows detecting wear of the polishing layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a polishing pad suitable for polishing integrated circuit wafers. It includes an upper polishing layer that having a polishing surface and at least one groove in the upper polishing layer. At least one transparent window is located within the upper layer. The at least one transparent window has a thickness greater than a desired wear depth of the at least one groove. The at least one transparent window includes a non-fluorescent transparent polymer; and a fluorescent transparent polymer. The transparent window allows measuring groove depth by activating the fluorescent transparent polymer with an activation source at a wavelength sufficient to excite the fluorescent transparent polymer and allow endpoint detection by sending light through the fluorescent transparent polymer and the non-fluorescent transparent polymer.

Abstract: The invention provides a polishing pad suitable for polishing integrated circuit wafers. A polyurethane polishing layer has a top surface and at least one groove in the polyurethane polishing layer. At least one copolymer wear detector located within the polyurethane polishing layer detects wear of the polishing layer adjacent the at least one groove. The at least one wear detector includes two regions, a first region being a fluorescent acrylate/urethane copolymer linked with a UV curable linking group and a second non-fluorescent region, The wear detector allows detecting wear of the polishing layer.

Abstract: A method including providing a ceramic log (300) with a first end and an opposing second end; providing one or more cutting devices (100) comprised of a dual bladed cutting member (200); and removing material by cutting at least the first end with the dual bladed cutting member (200), wherein a first blade (210) of the dual bladed cutting member (200) provides a finished surface and a second blade (220) removes a percentage of scrap above the finished surface. An apparatus (100) for cutting a ceramic log (300).

Abstract: Prepregs are prepared by impregnating a fiber mat with an aqueous dispersion of a thermosetting resin. The resulting wet, impregnated fiber mat is dried by contacting it with streams of elevated temperature gas, such as in an air flotation dryer. This process provides thorough and economical drying without significantly curing the thermoset resin.

Abstract: An article comprising a) a die core having a plurality of flow paths adapted to flow extrudable material to a plurality of slots including wall slots and skin slots and around a plurality of pins so as to form a honeycomb structure from the extrudable material; and b) a mounting plate adapted to hold the die core in an extrusion system having an opening adapted to allow the extrudable material passed through the die core to exit, an outer portion adapted to mount and hold the die core in place, a flange about the periphery of the opening which seats the die core, an inner surface disposed to partially form the skin slots adapted to allow extrudable material to flow from the skin slots to form the skin of the honeycomb structure; and wherein the die core and mounting plate are comprised of different materials having different wear properties.

Abstract: A vibratory screener including a screen with an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of apertures, an attachment post extending above the upper surface of the screen, and a cleaning system positioned above the upper surface of the screen. The cleaning system includes a support plate, a plurality of arms extending radially from the support plate, and at least one brush extending downwardly from each of the arms. Each brush is positioned so that the distal end of at least one of its multiple bristles contacts the upper surface of the screen. The screener further includes a collection area positioned below the lower surface of the screen and a vibration generator that vibrates the screen and the cleaning system and causes the arms to rotate relative to the upper surface of the screen.

Abstract: An article comprising; a) a die core (10) having plurality of flow paths adapted to flow extrudable material to a plurality of slots (12) and around a plurality of pins (11) so as to form a honeycomb structure from the extrudable material, the honeycomb structure having a skin about its outer surface in the extrusion direction, the slots (12) comprise wall slolts (12) for forming walls of the honeycomb structure and skin slots (16) disposed about an outer periphery of the die core (10) for forming the skin arond the honey-comb structure, the die having an extrusion entrance surface (24) and an extrusion exit surface (13); b) a mounting plate (20) adapted to hold the die core (10) in an extrusion system having an opening (21) adapted to allow the extrudable material passed through the die core (10) to exit the die core (10), an outer portion adapted mount and hold the die core (10) in place, and a flange (22) about the periphery of the opening (21) which seats the die core (10) and is disposed about the outer

Abstract: A method including providing a ceramic log (300) with a first end and an opposing second end; providing one or more cutting devices (100) comprised of a dual bladed cutting member (200); and removing material by cutting at least the first end with the dual bladed cutting member (200), wherein a first blade (210) of the dual bladed cutting member (200) provides a finished surface and a second blade (220) removes a percentage of scrap above the finished surface. An apparatus (100) for cutting a ceramic log (300).

Abstract: A vibratory screener including a screen with an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of apertures, an attachment post extending above the upper surface of the screen, and a cleaning system positioned above the upper surface of the screen. The cleaning system includes a support plate, a plurality of arms extending radially from the support plate, and at least one brush extending downwardly from each of the arms. Each brush is positioned so that the distal end of at least one of its multiple bristles contacts the upper surface of the screen. The screener further includes a collection area positioned below the lower surface of the screen and a vibration generator that vibrates the screen and the cleaning system and causes the arms to rotate relative to the upper surface of the screen.

Abstract: A process (2) for manufacturing a shaped article (17), comprising the steps of: dry blending (8) a plurality of different particulated ingredients (11) to form a uniform particle blend; reblending the particle blend by substantially defining a mass flow in a discharge unit (19) including an insert (39, 60) and shaping the particle blend in a part shaping machine (15) to form the shaped article (17).

Abstract: A process (2) for manufacturing a shaped article (17), comprising the steps of: dry blending (8) a plurality of different particulated ingredients (11) to form a uniform particle blend; reblending the particle blend by substantially defining a mass flow in a discharge unit (19) including an insert (39, 60) and shaping the particle blend in a part shaping machine (15) to form the shaped article (17).